The Mystery of the Unsolved Murders by Jack the Ripper

Who was Jack the Ripper?

Between August and November 1888, the White Chapel area of London was the scene of five brutal murders. The killer was dubbed ‘Jack the Ripper’.

All the women murdered were prostitutes, and all except for one – Elizabeth Stride – were horribly mutilated. The killer was nicknamed thus because of the violent way in which he murdered the women.

Progression of Jack the Ripper

The first murder was of a woman named Mary Ann Nicholls. It took place on 31 August. Annie Chapman was killed on 8 September. Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddoweson have murdered 30 September and Mary Jane Kelly on 9 November.

These are often referred to as the ‘canonical five’ Ripper murders. Some theorists consider Martha Tabram, stabbed to death on 6 August 1888, to be the first victim.

Since the beginning of the murders, there has been a lot of speculation There has been much speculation as to the identity of the killer. It has been suggested that he or she was a doctor or butcher.

This was based on the evidence of weapons and the mutilations that occurred, which showed a knowledge of human anatomy. Many theories have been put forward suggesting individuals who might be responsible. One theory links the murders with Queen Victoria’s grandson, Prince Albert Victor, also known as the Duke of Clarence, although the evidence for this is insubstantial.

Violence to prostitutes was not uncommon in the Victorian age and there were many instances of women being brutalized, but the nature of these murders strongly suggests a single perpetrator.

The Mystery of the Unsolved Murders by Jack the Ripper

A quarter of a mile from the scene of Catherine Eddowes’ murder, the words ‘The Juwes [sic] are not the men to be blamed for nothing,’ were found scrawled on a wall in chalk, and it was suggested this was written by the killer.

The murderer is also sometimes thought to have made contact by letter with several public figures. These letters, like the chalk message, have never been proved to be authentic and may have been hoaxes. Jack the Ripper was never caught and he is not thought to have killed again after November 1888.